Exercising device



Oct. 19, 1965 B. K. BASSLER 3,212,776

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG./

INVENTOR BLAIR K. BASSL ER ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 Filed Jan. 22. 1964 B. K. BASSLER 3,212,776

EXERCISING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BLAIR. K. 845.515

ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,212,776 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 3,212,776 EXERCISING DEVICE Blair K. Bassler, 15622 Cully Drive, ()range, Calif. Filed Jan. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 339,424 Claims. (Cl. 272-73) This invention relates to an exercising device. More particularly, this invention relates to an exercising action. of the rotating or pedal type having an ingenious action.

The exercising device of the present invention is a small, compact, inexpensive therapy machine. In essence, it will be appreciated from the drawings that the general appearance thereof is that of a motor driven bicycle pedal arrangement without seats, handle bars or expensive upper framework. It is compact in that it is no larger than the ordinary household appliance such as a vacuum cleaner and has a sufficiently heavy low center of gravity to prevent tipping.

The advantages attendant the instant device over prior art equipment is the fact that the cost is substantially reduced by eliminating the seat, handle bars and upper frame. The device is small and compact and easily stored in closets and the like when not in use. It is an ideal exercising arrangement for apartment dwellers in our urban society and homes with no suitable place for gymnastic equipment. Additionally, the device of the present invention finds use in treating invalids who would receive considerable benefit by cycle type exercising machines but cannot lift themselves up to the seat of these machines and require an attendant close at hand in order to stay on the machine when mounted.

The primary object of the present invention is to disclose an exercising machine of an ingenious nature.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose an exercising machine having means for application of motive power from the individual exercising and the means of resisting a reversal to its own motive power, said reversal being applied by the individual exercising.

It is still another object of the present invention to disclose a compact and small efliciently constructed exercising device.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away perspective view of the exercise device of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the exercise device of the present invention wherein the housing has been removed;

FIGURE 3 is a view of an axle of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the axle used in the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the sheave of the pulley used in the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the manipulative parts operating the sheave of the pulleys of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of the operation of the pulley arrangement.

Now, turning to FIGURE 1 for a consideration of the details of the present invention, it will be noted that the device is housed in a compact housing 11 having modernistic features. Primarily, it will be noted that housing 11 consists of two parts suitably secured to one another as at 1111 by means of rivets or screws andthe like. The base portion of housing 11 has an extension to the left thereof in which an electric motor 12 is positioned therein. More about this will be said in connection with FIGURE 2. Additionally, attention is drawn to the fact that a pair of pedals 13 are secured to squared end portion 14 of an axle projecting outwardly through the upper portion of housing 11. It is noted that another pedal is positioned at the other side in a similar manner. For the general perspective of the device in mind, attention is now directed to FIGURE 2 for a more detailed consideration. First of all, it will be noted that motor 12 has a drive shaft 21 which is coupled through coupling 22 to a driven shaft 23. Driven shaft 23 enters a speed reducer 24 which has a speed reduction ratio of :1. The electric motor has a speed of approximately 1,200 revolutions per minute and has a horsepower rating of one-half. The speed reducer 24 has a driven shaft 25 extending therefrom at its front side. A small pulley 26 is splined thereto. On top of the speed reducer 24 is -a bifurcated bracket support 27. A driven pulley 28 is secured to a shaft 29 which extends through the bracket support 27. A notched timing belt 30 is mounted therebetween so that the speed reducer operates to turn pulley 28 and thereby shaft 29. Between the bifuroated bracket support 27 is a pulley 31. Pulley 31 is splined to shaft 29. More about this will be stated below. Vertically and horizontally disposed from pulley 31 is pulley 32. Belt 33 operates between the two pulleys so that pulley 31 is the driving pulley and pulley 32 is the driven pulley. The belt 33 will be positioned as in FIGURE 2 at mid-point between center and outer diameter on both pulleys 31 and 32 when the machine is idling. Pulley 32 is splined to a shaft 34 having the said squared end portions 14 for application of a pedal 13 or a crank (not shown). Additionally, from FIGURE 2 it will be seen that rockers 41 are secured between the pulleys 31 and 32 at both sides thereof. Additionally, fulcrum brackets 42 extend from the support 27 to provide support and a fulcrum. point for the rockers as at 43.

From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that as electric motor 12 operates through the speed reducer, pulley 26 is rotated thereby moving belt 30 about pulley 28 which in turn drives the driver pulley 31 and it in turn through belt 33 drives the driven pulley 32. In such an instance, it will be appreciated that emphasis or torque will be provided tothe pedal 13 as shown. It has been found that 300 pounds torque resistance will be thereby applied through a half horsepower electric motor operating at 1,200 rpm. at a speed reducer of 60:1.

For a more detailed consideration of the invention, attention is now directed to FIGURE 3 which shows the axle or shaft 34 which is similar to axle 29. However, it will be noted that the shaft 34 has the squared end portions 14. The next sections 51 inwardly towards the center have a diameter larger than the squared end portion 14. The center portion 52 has yet a larger diameter than the portions 51. It will be not-ed that the larger portion 52 is grooved as at 53. FIGURE 4 shows a plurality of grooves 53 and the greater diameter portion 52 in greater detail.

The pulleys 31 and 32 consist of two sheaves each which are separable laterally. Attention is directed to FIGURE 5 for a front view of one of the sheaves. It will be noted that the sheave as shown in FIGURE 5 has splines 61, each of which fits into the grooves portion 53 of the shafts.

One of the great features of the present invention is the ability of the pulleys to decrease in diameter or to increase in diameter thereby varying the driving forces. In order to accomplish movement in one direction in connection with the sheaves of one pulley as it moves laterally and to accomplish the opposite in the other pulley, an ingenious arrangement is employed as can be seen in FIGURE 6. Therefrom, it will be noted that a helical spring 71 is secured about shaft portion 51 of the shaft. At one portion of the spring a housing 72 is positioned thereover and secured to the end of portion 51 terminating at the squared end portion 14. Another housing 73 having a larger diameter and telescoping over housing 72 is positioned over the helical spring and lies in abutment with the back face of one of the sheaves of the pulley. Further, it will be noted that ear 81 is secured to the periphery of housing 73. One of the ends of one of the rocker arms 41 is pivotally mounted to ear 81 as at 82. The spring 71 resists compression so that the sheaves of the pulleys resist separation but do not resist closing.

For a better understanding of the operation of the pulley arrangement of the present invention, attention is directed to FIGURE 7. In the diagrammatic arrangement shown in FIGURE 7, it will be noted that the upper pulley, which may be pulley 32 has separated and belt 33 has a decreased contact diameter about which to rotate. As the sheaves of pulley 32 separate, the sheaves of pulley 31 are brought together due to the action of rocker arms 41 about pivot points 43 thereby increasing the diameter of pulley 31 about which belt 33 must operate. It will be appreciated that, when the sheaves of pulley 31 separate, rocker arms 41 will pinch the sheaves of pulley 32 in order to bring them in closer proximity.

Now that the mechanics of the invention have been described, it will be incumbent upon the inventor to describe utilization and operation thereof.

By placing the device of the present invention on the floor or anchored to a table or wall, the user may assume whatever posture his strength permits, such as seated on a chair with hands or feet on the pedals before him, seated on the floor in a rowing position or standing bent at the waist or any of many other positions. The user would then exert force with hands or feet against the pedals to slow the machine rotation or to turn the pedals faster to speed up ultimate rotation. In other words, the exercising device of the present invention is designed to exercise or provide therapy through a range of passive resistance so that no muscle tension is possible or calculated resistance or through an increase in the rotation to actually include a range of passive motion when no muscle tension is momentarily possible or calculated by the user or through an increase or decrease in the speed of rotation as imposed by the user to actually employ and promote greater muscle activity.

The action in the system of the present invention can be described in two ways. In the event the user applies reversed pressure or resistance in order to slow the machine a number of simultaneous forces are aroused. It will be appreciated that the driven pulley 32 will be forced to slow its speed-of revolution. Inasmuch as the input r.p.m. on the driver pulley 31 is constant and the belt length is constant, the resulting action is for the belt to seek a new position between the two pulleys relative to the center of diameter of one to the outer diameter of the other in accordance with the formula:

diameter of driven pulley In order for the belt to accomplish this adjustment, the sheaves of the driven pulley 32 must close in order to accommodate the belts moving to the outer diameter. This would occur readily except that when the sheaves of the driven pulley 32 are closing the action is being transmitted by the rocker arms in a reverse opening of the sheaves of the driver pulley 31 and this opening is being opposed by the springs of pulley 31. The springs will oppose the action as increased pressure is applied until the maximum slow speed equilibrium of the unit is reached which will be about 8 r.p.m. It will be appreciated that in the event the user attempts to speed up rotation of the pedals just the opposite effect will take,

4 place and the result will be something like that shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 7 and the resistance of the spring action at pulley 32 will resist opening and will arrive at a point of equilibrium being at a maximum of 60 r.p.m.

As an example, alternating pressures act as follows:

REVERSE PRESSURE APPLIED The exercising device of the present invention will in eifect act as a compensator or automatic pilot resisting any slowing down or speeding up from its normal operating speed and will at all times return to the speed, if unopposed, in a smooth even action without bounce or slip of the pedals.

It will be apparent that many changes and modifications of the several features described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore apparent that the foregoing description is by way of illustration of the invention rather than limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device comprising a unit housing enclosing said device and including therein a base, an electric motor mounted on said base, an upright bifurcated standard mounted on said base, a first axle journalled in said standard, said first axle being operatively connected to said motor, a first pulley keyed on said first axle between said bifurcated portions of said standard, a second axle journalled in said housing in vertical displacement from said first axle and supporting limb engaging means, a second pulley keyed to said second axle, a belt connecting the two pulleys, each of said pulleys having a pair of split, laterally movable sheaves, a helical spring mounted concentric to each of said axles on the outside of each sheave to bias said sheaves of each pulley towards one another, and means connecting said pulleys for movement of the sheaves of the pulleys in a direction relative to each other and, simultaneously, in a direction opposite to the movement of the sheaves of the other pulley.

2. An exercising device comprising a unit housing enclosing said device and including therein a base, an electric motor mounted on said base, an upright bifurcated standard mounted on said base, a first axle journalled in said standard, said axle being operatively connected to said motor, a first pulley keyed on said first axle between said bifurcated portions of said standard, a second axle journalled in said housing in vertical displaoement from said first axle, said axle having squared end portions having pedals attached thereto, a second pulley keyed to the substantial central portion of said second axle, a belt connecting the two pulleys, each of said pulleys having a pair of split, laterally movable sheaves, a helical spring mounted concentric to said axles on the outside of each sheave to bias said sheaves of each pulley towards one another, a telescoping housing over said springs, the inner portion of each larger diameterportion of said telescoping housing in abutment with said sheaves, and means connecting said pulleys for movement of the sheaves of one pulley in a direction relative to each other and, simultaneously, in a direction opposite to the movement of the sheaves of the other pulley.

3. An exercising device comprising a unit housing enclosing said device and including therein a base, an electric motor mounted on said base, a gear reduction box mounted on said base, said motor being operatively connected to said box, said box having a shaft extending horizontally therefrom, a first pulley keyed on said shaft, an upright bifurcated standard mounted on said gear reduction box, a first axle journalled in said standard and extending therefrom, a second pulley keyed to said extending portion of said first axle, a first belt connecting said first and second pulleys, a third pulley keyed on said first axle between said bifurcated portions of said standard, a second axle journalled in said unit housing in vertical displacement from said first axle, a fourth pulley keyed to the substantial central portion of said second axle, said second axle having squared end portions having limb engaging pedals attached thereto, a second belt connecting said third and fourth pulleys, each of said pulleys having a pair of split, laterally movable sheaves, a helical spring mounted concentric to said first and second axles on the outside of each sheave to bias said sheaves of each pulley towards one another, a telescoping housing over said springs, the inner portion of the larger diameter portion of said telescoping housing in abutment with the sheaves, and means connecting said third and fourth pulleys for movement of the sheaves of one pulley in a direction relative to each other and, simultaneously, in a direction opposite to the movement of the sheaves of the other pulley.

4. The exercising device of claim 3 wherein the means connecting said third and fourth pulleys comprises two levers, one of said levers having each end pivotally secured to said housing of said spring at the same side of said sheaves.

5. The exercising device of claim 4 wherein the means connecting saidthird and fourth pulleys comprises two levers, one of said levers having each end pivotally secured to said housing of said spring at the same side of said sheaves, each of said levers being pivotally secured to an end of a bracket, the other end being mounted to each bifurcated portion of said standard.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 812,332 8/37 France. 1,136,756 1/57 France.

851,234 10/60 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING A UNIT HOUSING ENCLOSING SAID DEVICE AND INCLUDING THEREIN A BASE, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, AN UPRIGHT BIFURCATED STANDARD MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, A FIRST AXLE JOURNALLED IN SAID STANDARD, SAID FIRST AXLE BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR, A FIRST PULLEY KEYED ON SAID FIRST AXLE BETWEEN SAID BIFURCATED PORTIONS OF SAID STANDARD, A SECOND AXLE JOURNALLED IN SAID HOUSING IN VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT FROM AID FIRST AXLE AND SUPPORTING LIMB ENGAGING MEANS, A SECOND PULLEY KEYED TO SAID SECOND AXLE, A BELT CONNECTING THE TWO PULLEYS, EACH OF SAID PULLEYS HAVING A PAIR OF SPLIT, LATERALLY MOVABLE SHEAVES, A HELICAL SPRING MOUNTED CONCENTRIC TO EACH OF SAID AXLES ON THE OUTSIDE OF EACH SHEAVE TO BIAS SAID SHEAVES OF EACH PULLEY TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER, AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID PULLEYS FOR MOVEMENT OF THE SHEAVES OF THE PULLEYS IN A DIRECTION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND, SIMULTANEOUSLY, IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE SHEAVES OF THE OTHER PULLEY. 